Cutoff Man Podcast: Tigers' Miguel Cabrera making case for AL MVP

AP PhotoTigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs in Monday's 10-7 win.

Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer might be hogging the American League MVP spotlight with his .374 batting average, but Tigers blogger Ian Casselberry, of BlessYouBoys.com, says Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera is a sleeper that is quietly making a run at the hardware.

"He's got an outside shot," Casselberry said. "He's making a surge. Last year he had an incredible August and September and it looks like he's about to do the same thing."

Cabrera, who hit the 201st home run of his career Monday -- one day after recording his 200th, is hitting 20-for-37 (.541) in his past last nine games. He's hitting .387 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs since the All-Star break.

"If the Tigers do make a decent run and establish a big lead, maybe the voters will take into consideration a guy playing for a first-place team," Casselberry said.

The first-place Tigers have won six of their last 10 games, building a 3 ½ and 4 ½-game lead on the White Sox and Twins.

"Miguel is probably going to have to make a pretty big push to impress some voters," Casselberry said.

Listen to the entire show as Casselberry discusses Brandon Inge's second-half slump and Aubrey Huff's forgettable first week with Detroit.